Weekly news round up - 20.05.13 (Vitor Belfort, Mark Hunt, Renan Barao)

[The Great Cochrane]

Hello everyone, I'm Alex Cochrane here for your Wrestling Punks MMA news report. We're coming off the heels of what was an absolutely explosive event in Brazil this Saturday where we saw Vitor Belfort show that he is not stopping at this point.. even at 36 years old. Now a lot of people tend to question Vitor's victory over his TRT being approved by the UFC.

Vitor Belfort has earned his second straight TKO victory at a UFC on FX show, this time taking out former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in the first round. The win was met with glowing admiration from many fans but has also attracted a wave of criticism, owing to Belfort's controversial use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). The debate over TRT has been smoldering for some time, but seeing "the Phenom" take home another stunning knockout has re-ignited the issue for much of the MMA community.

Vitor is not the only fighter using TRT, nor is he the first. Fellow standouts Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson have all received the treatment and gone on record in favor of it. Proponents say TRT doesn't offer an unfair advantage because it only restores the fighter's testosterone count to a natural, healthy level. Although professional athletes may seem like odd candidates for low testosterone (the condition generally only affects men who are older and/or dealing with chronic diseases), supporters maintain that the grueling nature of a long MMA career has potential to depress a fighter's levels.

TRT's detractors are not so charitable. They believe many fighters are suffering from low testosterone due to years of anabolic steroid abuse, a claim that is certainly plausible given the number of MMA fighters who have tested positive over the past decade. Allowing fighters to legally use TRT, critics say, is simply an endorsement of cheating. UFC President Dana White has been one of many prominent figures to come out strongly against TRT, having publicly stated that he wants it banned across the board.

Belfort's case could seemingly be used as evidence for either side. Supporters might point out that he's 36 now, and his first fights are older than the sport of MMA itself, dating all the way back to the NHB tournaments of the late 1990s. His speed and power are tremendous, you say? Nothing new there, because they always have been. Has his career seen a big resurgence since starting TRT? Sure, but Vitor has always had his ups and downs, and he's been crushing opponents at 185 pounds since before the TRT regimen was initiated.

Yet the other side has plenty of ammunition as well. Belfort failed a steroid test after a Pride event back in 2006. The supporters are correct that he's been fighting for almost 17 years, but after that length of time, how can an athlete achieve peak performance without getting some "help"? Hell, you can tell just by looking at Vitor that something is up. Do a Google image search for "Vitor Belfort UFC 126", and then contrast that with the guy who fought on FX last Saturday. It's hard to ignore the increased muscle mass and definition that the TRT-fueled version of Belfort has acquired in the space of only two years.

So what's the takeaway here? Is TRT a medical treatment for fighters that suffer from a debilitating condition, or merely a loophole that allows them to cheat? The truth is that we aren't going to reach an immediate consensus, so it might be a good idea to take a step back and find some neutral ground. TRT is here (for now at least), so let's implement some safeguards to help prevent its abuse. Let's enlist the help of the medical and anti-doping communities to learn more about TRT and how it affects athletic performance. Let's compile a list of fighters who are on TRT and make it public, so potential opponents will have full disclosure on who is receiving therapy. And let's have the UFC and the ACs work together to increase drug testing of fighters who use TRT.

We may not be able to agree on the ethics of TRT just yet, but we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Employing a common sense approach to TRT will help reduce the risk of abuse and preserve the legitimacy of MMA competition.

Although there was a lot of controversy surrounding the TRT use, one person who did not object the usage was the man Belfort defeated on Saturday.. Luke Rockhold. In a rather class act, the former Strikeforce champion had this to say.

Luke Rockhold tasted defeat at UFC on FX 8, a feeling the final Strikeforce middleweight champion has only felt once and that was in 2007. Vitor Belfort needed just the first round to finish Rockhold after landing a spinning heel kick.

While many were left to wonder if TRT was the factor that led to Belfort securing the win, Rockhold doesn't agree and felt the better person won in that fight.

"I felt good," said Rockhold at the post-fight press conference. "I saw his punches. I saw everything. I was landing some shots. I felt like I was starting to control things, and then I got caught. It happens. TRT had nothing to do with that kick."

Rockhold is now 10-2 as his nine fight win streak out of Strikeforce was snapped. The former champion wants to return immediately to action.

UFC on FX 8 was yesterday, May 18, and was headlined with Belfort taking the win.

The win puts the 36 year old Belfort at a unique place with a 4-2 record in his last 6 fights. Those only two losses have come from UFC champions; Anderson Silva & Jon Jones

As Vitor Belfort gets older, his MMA record just gets better. Last night, in front of his native country of Brazil, Belfort's second spinning heel kick was enough to finish Luke Rockhold in the main event of UFC on FX 8.

"I was a part of two jungles," said Belfort on FUEL TV. "I'm the T-Rex surviving this new young jungle. I'm rebuilding myself. I think it's that burning inside me that said 'you didn't accomplish what you did.' I made many mistakes and Dana [White] and Lorenzo [Fertitta] gave me the chance and I promised them my best to finish as strong as I can finish."

Since returning to the UFC in 2009, Belfort has only lost to champions Anderson Silva and Jon Jones. The win over Rockhold almost guarantees that he's the middleweight No. 1 contender yet again. That is of course after Chris Weidman gets his shot at Silva's middleweight title.

When the question of Belfort's TRT usage came up, he wouldn't provide an answer if the substance played a factor and brushed those questions off.

As for what's next, Belfort said a promised family vacation.

After hearing some words from Belfort, it seems safe to say that he wants one man to avenge his last couple of losses... that man, is Jon Jones.

Vitor Belfort challenged Jon Jones to a rematch after his January win over Michel Bisping. The challenge still stands as Belfort picked up another win by beating Luke Rockhold on Saturday.

"The challenge for Jon Jones still stands, it just depends," said Belfort at the UFC on FX 8 post-fight press conference.

In September 2012, Belfort accepted the spot opposite light heavyweight champion Jones. Several other names had declined the fight, leading to Belfort getting the title shot. Jones escaped an early round one armbar to take the submission win in the fourth round.

Jones has stated he plans to remain as light heavyweight until he at least breaks the record for most title defenses. He's tied the record of five with Tito Ortiz.

Since Belfort returned to the UFC, he's only lost to champions Anderson Silva and Jones.

Also coming over from the Strikeforce cage to the Octagon was another former Strikeforce champion.. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souze, a brazilian jiu jitsu black belt who had a total of 13 submission wins coming into the octagon. And after his win over Chris Camozzi in the co main event.. he added one more to his list.

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza made the most of his UFC debut, proving that his time in DREAM and Strikeforce could be the start of something big for the middleweight.

After some heavy strikes, Souza was able to lock in an arm triangle choke against Chris Camozzi at UFC on FX 8. The win came within the first round and was enough for Submission of the Night.

"I came here and showed I can perform very well," said Souza on FUEL TV. "I threw a couple of punches, so I gave him my business card. I wanted to show him I'm a complete fighter."

At 18-3, Souza has just two losses out of 12 Strikeforce and DREAM fights. Souza has won his last three in the first round and has taken a pair this year.

Also on the main card, Rafael dos Anjos made a splash winning a unanimous judges' decision over Evan Dunham with 29-28 scores across the board, and nobody agreed with the judges more than dos Anjos himself.

Rafael Dos Anjos has no doubt he beat Evan Dunham at UFC on FX 8. The problem is that not everyone agreed with the unanimous decision, including UFC president Dana White.

"I was confident because he had the first round," said Anjos on FUEL TV. "I won the second and third round, so I was really confident."

Anjos is up to four straight wins following a few years that saw him go even in his career. All four wins are since May 2012.

The lightweight is open to fighting anyone since his UFC on FX 8 win. Their contest was on the main card.

While the night certainly promised us some unforgetable highlights, there was also some low points heading into the card as well. Specifically for Rafael Natal who was forced to change opponents prior to learning that Chris Cammozi had stepped up to face Ronaldo Souza in the co main event. However, the pledge certainly did him well as he eventually defeated Joao Zeferino in the first fight on the main card.

Rafael Natal trained months for Chris Camozzi before an injury to Costa Philippou changed everything. Camozzi got moved to the co-main event spot and Joao Zeferino was named the replacement fight for Natal.

At UFC on FX 8, Natal took the decision to open the main card. The change in in opponents came two weeks before yesterday's event and threw off Natal's game.

"I trained very hard for the other guy," said Natal on FUEL TV. "It changed everything, but it's a part of the game. It's the third time it's happened to me. I was a little bit confused. [Zeferino] didn't have much time to prepare."

Natal improves to 4-2 for the UFC and has two wins this year. It was Zeferino's UFC debut.

They opened the main card in the UFC's return to Brazil.

Although the UFC loves to come to Brazil, one person who is not down with the idea is Nik Lentz. The Featherweight has twice traveled to Brazil this year for UFC on FX events and said that he would rather fight in the United States for his next fight.

Nik Lentz does rather well when the UFC comes out of Brazil. This year, the UFC has held two shows from Brazil with Lentz securing the win both times. The most recent win came against Hacran Dias at UFC on FX 8.

While Brazil treats Lentz well, he wants to compete inside the United States next time.

"It's not my favorite traveling here," said Lentz on FUEL TV. "It takes such a long time traveling. This one took me practically 30 hours to get here. It's just a different environment and makes weight cutting a little harder. I think I have done my dues and am looking forward to fighting in the Unites States again."

Since dropping to featherweight in August, Lentz has taken three. The loss for Dias makes him 1-1 for the promotion.

In other news the controversy surrounding Mark Hunt's recent Visa issues has seemed to calm down over the last little while. As the "super somoan" was finally cleared of his recent convictions, and will now face Junior dos Santos in the co main event this Saturday at UFC 160.

Following some uncertainty if Mark Hunt would obtain a visa to leave New Zealand for the United States, the heavyweight confirmed Sunday afternoon he is on his way to UFC 160.

A 2002 arrest was the cause for the delay, which required the UFC to have Roy Nelson get a license for UFC 160 and be on standby if Hunt could not make it.

Hunt had been trying for about a week now to obtain his new visa and the UFC was confident that there wouldn't be a problem. In light of the issue, he simply tweeted;

"Thank u for my visa father"

Hunt squares off with Junior dos Santos in the co-main event of UFC 160 this Saturday, May 25. It comes from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The next heavyweight contender could be decided in this one.

UFC Interim Bantamweight champion Renan Barao was recently injured while training this week, and that certainly spells no good news for the Bantamweight Division nor the upcoming UFC 161 card that he was supposed to headline opposite Eddie Wineland in Winnipeg. UFC president Dana White had some words for the public.

Live during yesterday's UFC on FX 8, it was reported that interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao was injured and out of the UFC 161 championship main event.

When asked via text by MMA Fighting if Barao was out, UFC president Dana White said "probably."

Barao hasn't been officially removed from the card by the UFC as he is still listed to defend the belt against Edddie Wineland from the MTS Centre in Canada. The card is June 15, less than a month away so a decision will be required shortly.

A right foot injury is being blamed as the culprit of this fiasco.

Speaking of Brazilians, Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen seem to be sparking a war of the words. After Sonnen lost to Anderson Silva and Jon Jones, the UFC's top trash talker took to the mic and sounded off on what is a potential opponent.

Chael Sonnen likes to play mind games with MMA fans, reporters and even fighters. So, it's of no surprise the former contender appears to be doing that once again.

Since a loss to Jon Jones last month for the UFC light heavyweight title, Sonnen has been calling out Wanderlei Silva for a fight.

This past weekend, however, Sonnen made it sound as if he is over fighting Silva and has moved on. "The Axe Murderer" recently declined to say anything about a fight, only remarking that no contract has been offered to him at that time.

"At some point, my skills will diminish and my athletic abilities will go down," Sonnen said on FUEL TV. "And when they do, I'll either join the NFL or fight Wanderlei Silva. But at this point, I'm looking ahead and I don't know what's next."

Reports have stated that Sonnen-Silva could be a featured fight on the August debut card for FOX Sports 1.

Well folks, that's all for today make sure to tune in tomorrow to see what new and exciting MMA news has been making the headlines. For Wrestling Punks.. I'm Alex Cochrane signing off.